1838] 



FAllMEKS' REGISTER. 



527 



vation, some satuly ridges or hills of considemble 

 elevation. Those are not liir Troni that central 

 reuion where the waters diverge to ditterent sides 

 of (he |)enin.sula. The course of the various 

 streams which tai<e their rise within these central 

 parts, marks out the character of the slope, run- 

 ning nortii-west, south-west, south-easterly and 

 norihwardly. The Onithlacoochee, Pease Creek, 

 Kissimmer, St, John's, and the waters emptying 

 into the Indian River lagoons, all illustrate this 

 central elevation, and general mclination towards 

 the coast. 



One of the striking features of the coast of 

 Florida, is the lagoons, as they are termed, or long 

 and narrow bodies of water, separated li-om the 

 sea by a strip of sand, generally not more than a 

 mile or two wide. They are connected with the 

 sea here and there by inlets, which are made and 

 kept open by the out-rushing or in-rushing tides, 

 as they happen to prevail. The outward current 

 is that which chiefly prevails, from the most natu- 

 ral causes. Accumulations (i-om rain«, must give 

 a great preponderance to the inner waters, which, 

 however, may, in the course of a dry season, 

 drain out to a level with the outer waters, when 

 the drift of a storm blocks up, at least for a time, 

 the usual passage, and so it remains until the 

 balance of force is turned by new rains. 



This alternate operation of counter causes, ex- 

 plains the fact well known by those who frequent 

 this coast, that these inlets are at one time very 

 accessible, and at others, nearly or quite closed up. 

 These lagoons extend from above St. Augustine 

 to Jupiter inlet, a stretch of three or more hun- 

 dred miles, with but a few miles interruption by 

 land. Their common depth is several feet, though 

 they all are traversed by shoals or bars, which re- 

 duce their navigable facility to about three i'eet. 

 These shoals, however, could easily be made 

 passable for useful purposes. It has been proposed 

 to connect the river St. John's by a canal with 

 the Matanzas river, separated by about ten or fif- 

 teen miles ; the Matanzas with the Halifax, twice 

 that distance, perhaps, apart. Between the wa- 

 ters of which the Musquito inlet is the embouch- 

 ure, and those of the Indian River, there is only a 

 narrow neck of about half a mile. Such a pro- 

 ject would open an interior navigation from 

 Charleston to Jupiter inlet: and below Cape Flori- 

 da it is well known that a practicable and shelter- 

 ed channel runs around the peninsula, within the 

 "keys." 



The mangrove tree is a conspicuous embellish- 

 ment of the Indian River lagoon. Being of an 

 aquatic character, these trees, by a happy provi- 

 sion of nature, are radicated to suit their thrifty 

 habits, not unhke the long-legged species of birds 

 which are fitted for the water; they stand with 

 their trunks lifted several feet in the air, sending 

 out roots Irom that elevated point, like so many 

 bow-legs, to seize the earth or water below, with 

 a base often as wide-spread as the branching head 

 above. Then, again, as if these roots could not 

 drink moisture enough to satisfy their cravings, 

 each branch sends down many a slender tube per- 

 pendicularly to the water, like so many syphons to 

 draw it up. The foliage is of the brightest green. 

 Altogether, a mangrove thicket is a most attrac- 

 tive object to the eye. These thickets sometimes 

 shoot out a spur into the lagoon, resembling just 

 above the water a fisherman's weir-net, but sur- 



mounted by a most redundant foliage, and ahiiost 

 closing up the channel. 



The bars at the mouths of the lagoons are an 

 obstruction to the commercial fiicililics of Florida. 

 The entrance to St. Augustine harbor is perhaps 

 the best on the coast, and, with proper attention 

 to the tides and winds, is safiily practicable for 

 vessels of light draft. The drift of the ocean, 

 which in this quarter is strongly charged with al- 

 luvion, heaps up the sands along the coast, con- 

 stantly changing their position, with, probably, a 

 gradual augmentation. The inlets would share 

 the common fate, and be closed up, if it were not 

 for the outsetting currents, arising either from the 

 tides, or the accumulation of waters within. 

 These causes, with partial exceptions, keep open 

 a channel, but cannot preserve it in one place. 

 The bar off' St. Augustine has widely shifted, be- 

 ing now nearly one-half the points of the com- 

 pass to the north of its position, within the memo- 

 ry of living pilots. Those of the more southern 

 inlets are less practicable, excepting that of the 

 Musquito. The channels are known only to 

 those who are habitually upon them. A fearful 

 looking surf is always coursing over them, when 

 a wind is blowing with freshness, which renders 

 them formidable to strangers, while those who 

 are accustomed to them, pass through it with lit- 

 tle real hazard. The evil, however, is a great 

 one, and apparently irremediable. 



The rivers of Florida, though of no great 

 length, are, generally, of a most convenient depth. 

 The banks are bold and firm. Those which 

 empty into the lower part of the St. John's, are 

 fitted for any craft that comes into the main river, 

 or have no impediments in the way, excepting 

 what arise from fallen trees. There is no current 

 to change their character, which belongs to a level 

 country. 



The botany of Florida was early examined by 

 the Bartrams, and Audubon was some time among 

 its birds, which are rich in number and variety. 

 Many anecdotes are told of the latter, showing 

 the patience with which he kept his station in 

 swamps and marshes, in order to ascertain the 

 habits of the feathered creatures there, in spite of 

 musquitoes, reptiles, and other intolerable annoy- 

 ances. Doct. Leitner, who was killed in a skir- 

 mish with the Indians, this campaign, (1838,) is 

 said to have been a skilful botanist, and an ardent 

 votary of science. Accompanying a portion of 

 the active force, he would have had uncommon 

 opportunities for observing the plants of the south- 

 ern interior, which, probably, came little within 

 the scope of the Bartrams, whose investigations 

 were mostly, if not altogether, on the river St. 

 John's and the coast. He had already made con- 

 siderable advances towards the object he had in 

 view, with a most flattering prospect before him, 

 when he fell in the honorable performance of his 

 duty. 



The orange tree has been extensively culti- 

 vated in Florida, since its first occupation. The 

 Seville or sour, and bitter-sweet orange, are appa- 

 rently indigenous to the country, as many groves 

 of both are now found flourishing, where no labor 

 of man would seem to have placed them. The 

 China, or sweet orange, is probably an exotic. 

 These were found, not only around nearly every 

 house in the country, but occupying a part of 

 nearly every garden in the towns. They were 



